The Necessity of Philosophy of Medicine Course for Medical Students

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Philosophy of medicine as a field of study mainly concentrates on issues, such as ontology, epistemology, axiology, and logic. Although axiology has attracted more attention due to its position in medical ethics, especially in relation to modern medical ethical challenges, other topics of philosophy of medicine should be also considered important and necessary. Developing training courses at prestigious universities, publication of journals and books, holding conference meetings, are indicative of special attention to this relatively new field of knowledge. Some stipulated  goals of Iran medical education system, such as critical thinking and problem solving skills, have also made these issues important and necessary to be paid attention to. Addressing philosophy of medicine in medical education program, can lead to contemplation on critical thinking, nature of rational thinking, its governing rules, and its role in health care system, and this is while, medical education system has taken distance from combination of wisdom and medicine, which is the main feature of former and influential Iranian physicians. Graduates of medical education system and provider of health services need to know the principles of health anthropology and the nature of health and disease in order to consider humans to be more than a body and to possess special dignity, and apply their professional practices and behaviors according to this approach. It seems that presenting the mentioned issues as a course entitled "Introduction to Medical Philosophy" to the medical students, may changes the attitude of health care providers.   &nbsp